Novel quick release holster, attachment device, and bag system for rescue rope bags and the like, allowing one handed operation for faster rescue times

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a new holster and bag system for use in water rescue situations. The flexible holster is capable of securing to various different watercraft in various ways while holding the corresponding rescue rope bag in place via a shock cord placed within the groove of the circular holster. The end of the rope should also be held in place by a quick release system capable of holding the rope unless released by the rescuer. The holster may be made differently or secured differently to fit different craft. The bag may also be designed differently to hold different amounts or sizes of rope for different applications.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a quicker and more simple holster andbag system for using throw bags and rescue ropes in any water rescuescenario including but not limited to whitewater rafting, search andrescue, ocean rescue, and the like. More specifically this holster iscapable of attaching to any inflatable, or rigid tube like structure andholding a pre packed rescue rope bag, securely in place, until deployedby the rescuer. The system in also capable of holding the end of therope securely and allowing the rope to be released via quick release ifneed be.

BACKGROUND

Rescue ropes have been widely used in the whitewater and water rescuescene. The Issues with the current rescue ropes specifically in awhitewater rafting scenario is that the rope is often sinched downinside a bag and then buckled to the raft in someway. This leaves theguide or rescuer with the task of letting go of their paddle or othermeans of controlling the boat, unclipping the rope bag, un-sinching therope, and holding the free end of the rope with one hand while throwingthe rescue bag. This process takes time in a situation where time is notnecessarily available.

Current quick release systems for rescue bags address only the issue ofquickly having the rescue rope bag in your hand but fail to address theissue that using both hands is not always an option, and holding the endof the rope once the rope has been thrown is not always practical.Devices using velcro or snaps suffer from fast wear and tear andaccidental deployment due to forces associated with use in turbulentwater.

Therefore a need exists for a rescue rope bag system that can bedeployed with one hand, in one swift motion, leaving the end of the ropeattached to the rescue craft, allowing the rescuer to safely and swiftlyrescue a victim. This bag system will need to be resistant to wear andtear and accidental deployment. Additionally, the attached end of therope should be able to be quickly released from the craft in the eventof a snag.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a holster and bag combination for rapiddeployment of rescue ropes. The holster is a firm flexible material thatcan flex to fit the form of most inflatable and rigid boat tubesassociated with water rescue use. The holster is specifically designedto strap around a whitewater raft thwart however could easily be adaptedto fit other parts of other crafts. The holster holds the rope bag inplace with a circular shock cord that fits into a groove on the holster.The bag is held in place with the pre loaded rope inside, and can onlybe deployed when pulled directly outward by the rescuer. The rope thenspools out of the thrown bag while the end remains attached to theholster with a quick release buckle allowing the rope to be quicklyreleased from the system if need be.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a drawing of the bag from the front. (01) is thefront face, (02) the reflective straps securing the bag to (03) theshock chord. (02) straps also function as primary handles for deploymentof bag. (03) shock cord is intended to fit around the (11) holsterdepicted in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10 and secure the bag in place. (04) isthe fabric top flap of the bag, also secured around the shock cordproviding closure to the bag and not allowing the rope to escape. See(Picture 1) for real world view (this picture is an early prototypeincluded to show perspective and general function and not to limit thebag to these exact specifications.)

FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows a drawing of the bag from the side addingperspective to the placement of (03)shock cord and (02) straps. FIG. 2also depicts the mesh sidewall (05) for drainage and rope drying as wellas the main vertical front grab handle made from the vertical strap of(02). See (picture 2) for real world view (this picture is an earlyprototype included to show perspective and general function and not tolimit the bag to these exact specifications.)

FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a drawing of the bag from the back addingperspective to the placement of (03) shock cord. FIG. 2 also depicts thefoam lip (06) intended to prevent rope from spilling out of the bagwhile it is secured to the holster. See (picture 3) for real world view(this picture is an early prototype included to show perspective andgeneral function and not to limit the bag to these exactspecifications.)

FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows a drawing of the bag bottom adding perspective tothe placement of (03) shock cord and (02) straps. FIG. 4 also depicts(07) grommets that allow (08) bottom loop of rope to exit and re enterbag for clipping to the rescue rope. See picture 4 for real world view(this picture is an early prototype included to show perspective andgeneral function and not to limit the bag to these exactspecifications.)

FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows a drawing of the top of the bag while the bag isclosed (secured to the holster) adding perspective to the placement of(04) top flap, (02) strap, and (03) shock cord. See picture 5 for realworld view (this picture is an early prototype included to showperspective and general function and not to limit the bag to these exactspecifications.)

FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows a drawing of the top of the bag while the bag isopen with top flap (04) folded back. This figure is intended to displaythe function referred to as *packing mode, a mode the top flap of thebag can easily be flipped back and rested on the holster backwards toallow for quick two handed repacking of (10) the rescue rope. Thisdrawing also provides perspective to the placement and function of (06)foam lip, (04) top flap, and (03) shock cord. See picture 6 for realworld view (this picture is an early prototype included to showperspective and general function and not to limit the bag to these exactspecifications.)

FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows a drawing of the bag on the holster from the side.This drawing is intended to add perspective to the placement andfunction of the (11) holster, (09) main handle strap, (05) sidewall,(08) bottom loop, and (03) shock cord. See picture 7 for real world view(this picture is an early prototype included to show perspective andgeneral function and not to limit the bag to these exactspecifications.)

FIG. 8. FIG. 8 shows a 3d rendering of the (11) holster also depicted inFIGS. 7, 9, and 10. This provides perspective to the curvature profileof the holster as well as shows the two entry and exit slots for (12)the securing strap to pass through.

FIG. 9. FIG. 9 shows a 3d rendered side view of (11) holster and (12)securing strap.

FIG. 10. FIG. 10 shows a 3d rendered top view of (11) holster and (12)securing strap.

FIG. 11. FIG. 11 shows a side view drawing of (11)holster, (12) securingstrap, and (13) cam buckle for tightening the securing strap and holsterto a raft thwart or other boat tube. See picture 11 for real world view(this picture is an early prototype included to show perspective andgeneral function and not to limit the device to these exactspecifications.)

FIG. 12. FIG. 12 shows a front view of the (11) holster and (12)securing strap. FIG. 12 also depicts (14) quick release strap meant tohold the end of the rescue rope and (15) quick release buckle and pulltab meant to provide quick and easy release of rope from the craft withthe pull of the (15) pull tab. See picture 12 for real world view (thispicture is an early prototype included to show perspective and generalfunction and not to limit the device to these exact specifications.)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A new holster and bag system for the quick deployment and use of arescue rope will be discussed herein. The present disclosure is to beconsidered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intendedto limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrates by thefigures, pictures, or description below.

The present invention will now be described by referencing the appendedfigures and pictures representing preferred embodiments. As seen in(FIG. 7) and (Picture 7), the bag containing the rescue rope is intendedto be secured to the (11)holster via a (03) shock cord that fits into agroove on said holster (The holster is depicted in more detail andvarying perspectives in FIGS. 8, 9, 10 as well as in FIG. 11, FIG. 12,Picture 11 and Picture 12. The (11) holster is intended to be flexibleand therefore able to flex to fit a large variety of tube sizes commonlyused in whitewater rafts and other water craft. (In Picture 11 thisflexibility is demonstrated on a cylindrical log) The holster is alsodesigned with two slots to allow a (12) securing strap to pass throughand secure it to the craft. The holster and shock cord design allow therescue rope bag to be quickly deployable but also very resistant toaccidental deployment due to forces associated with use in turbulentwater. Pulling from side to side or top to bottom does not deploy thebag as the shock cord is only more deeply seated into the groove in thissituation. The bag must be pulled outward to be deployed.

As seen in (FIG. 12) and (Picture 12) The end of the rescue rope isintended to be secured to the system and be able to be released quicklyvia (15) a quick release mechanism or something of similar function.This allows for flexibility of the rescuer to throw the rope to a victimwhile still remaining in control of the craft. The victim can then bepulled in by the rescuer at a safe time or the rescuer can instruct aless qualified passenger to pull in the victim.

As seen in (FIG. 1, FIG. 2) and (Picture 1, Picture 2) any number ofreflective or non reflective webbing straps(02) are intended to be usedto both secure the bag to the shock cord (and thus to the holster) andto provide a secure grab handle for deployment by the rescuer.

As seen in (FIG. 3) and (Picture 3) there is intended to be a foam lipwhich, regardless of shape, size or exact placement, is intended toprevent rope from spilling out of the bag while it is secured to theholster.

As seen in (FIG. 4) as well as in (Pictures 4, 2, and 1) a (08) grabloop is intended to enter and exit the bag through (07) grommets or thelike. The grab loop can be quickly secured to by clipping or tying andis secured to the rest of the rescue rope by a knot within the bag.

As seen in (FIG. 6) and (Picture 6) the bag is intended to be able to bepacked quickly by folding the (04) top flap and connected (03) shockcord backwards and resting the shock cord on the holster backwards. Thisallows the use of both hands while repacking the rope. This is refereedto as *packing mode.

The materials used to make the bag are almost entirely polyester due toits UV resistance. This allows the bag to be stored on crafts for longperiods of time without being removed and without degrading as quicklyas nylon or other fabrics. The rope type can vary depending on specificuse. The materials used for the holster can be any rubber or plastic.The holster design may be changed to fit other surfaces and secure inother ways. These other designs should be considered within the realm ofthis invention as long as the holster groove and shock cord concept isstill applied.

Although the present invention has been illustrated, described anddepicted herein with specific features and embodiments; it should bereadily apparent that other features and embodiments may perform similarfunctions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent features andembodiments are within the spirit and scope of the present invention,are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by thefollowing claims.

Conclusion:

The disclosed embodiments are illustrative, not restrictive. Whilespecific configurations of the device have been described, it isunderstood that the present invention can he applied to a wide varietyof devices. There are many alternative ways of implementing theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new holster and bag system for the quickdeployment and use of a rescue rope comprising: a. A bag containingrescue rope, that is capable of attaching to a holster and being rapidlydeployed b. A flexible holster capable of securing to a range of watercraft and securing the rope bag in place c. A quick release system thatholds the end of the rescue rope and releases it quickly, under load, ifneed be